Ledger Board to Rim Board Connector

ABSTRACT

A bracket includes a connector rod for mounting through aligned openings in a rim board of an original building structure and through the ledger board of an adjacent add-on building structure. The connector rod includes a stabilizer end of a length extending beyond the rim board and ledger board for connection to a support structure displaced from the rim board and ledger board. The fasteners there against the rim board, the ledger board, and a third fastener is displaced from the rim and ledger boards for connection to a supported structure.

PRIORITY

Applicants claim priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 61/995,770, filed in the U, S. Patent & Trademark Office on Apr. 21,2014.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a method and apparatus for attaching buildingstructures together. More particularly, this invention concerns a doubleshear point bracket with a stabilizer extension that may be used forattaching the ledger board of a deck, patio, porch or of other add-onbuilding structures to a rim board of an adjacent original buildingstructure. And the invention also concerns a method of attaching thebracket between the structures.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A typical building structure may include a horizontal rim board thatextends about and is supported by the foundation of the building. Thefloor, roof, ceiling framing, and exterior cladding of the building arereferred to herein as the “original building structure”. When a deck orother add-on building structure is to be added to the exterior of theoriginal building structure, the add-on building structure may include aledger board that is to extend adjacent and parallel to the rim board ofthe original building structure. The ledger board can be mounted to andsupported by the rim board of the original building structure. In thisarrangement, the ledger board supports the portion of the add-onbuilding structure that is adjacent the original building structure.

Usually both the rim board and ledger board are formed of wood and theconnection of the ledger board of the add-on building structure to therim board of the original building structure is made with brackets ordowel type connectors, typically bolts or screws. The load from thefloor of the add-on building structure is transferred to its ledgerboard, then from the ledger board to the bolts of the bracket, then fromthe bolts of the bracket to the rim board of the original buildingstructure.

The exterior cladding of a typical original building structure mayinclude, but is not limited to brick masonry, stone masonry, stucco,exterior insulating finishing system (“EIFS”), or siding. The exteriorcladding usually is removed from the original building structure at thepoint of mounting the ledger board of the add-on building structure tothe rim board of the original building structure, so the ledger board ofthe deck may be located close to the rim board, making contact with thewall sheathing or rim board.

In some cases, it is desirable to space the ledger board of the add-onbuilding structure away from the supporting original building structureto avoid removing the adjacent exterior cladding of the originalbuilding structure. This may be done for water proofing reasons or toavoid supporting the exterior cladding above the ledger board.

Usually, exterior cladding of the original building structure is notintended to be a load carrying element, and recent building codes havebegun to explicitly address this. If the exterior cladding is notremoved and the ledger board of the add-on building structure isseparated farther from the rim board of the original building structureto leave space for the exterior cladding, the connector bracket mustspan farther through an unsupported gap between the two buildings. Thegap may include a space or the non-structural wall cladding. This extralength of the connector bracket weakens the strength of the connectionsbetween the buildings.

A conventional “single shear” connector bracket may be used to mount theledger board to a rim board of joined building structures. The connectorbracket has two contact points, one at the rim board and the other atthe ledger board. Pivoting of the connector bracket by the load of theadd-on building applied to the connector bracket is resisted by anon-uniform compression stress distribution between the connectorbracket and the wood of the rim and ledger boards. This potentialfailure mode is known as “mode II” in the National Design Specificationfor Wood Construction, as illustrated herein in FIG. 1.

When the ledger board of the add-on building structure is attached tothe rim board of an original building structure and the boards are incontact with one another, or very close to one another, the length ofthe single shear connector bracket extending between the rim and ledgerboards is relatively short and a high shear load from the ledger boardto the rim board can be transferred through the connector bracket.

But when the structures are separated by a wider unsupported gap, thelength of the connector bracket extending between the rim and ledgerboards must be greater and the maximum compression stress on the wood ofthe structures by the single shear connector bracket becomes higher asthe connector begins to pivot. The result is the add-on buildingstructure is not supported at an acceptable level.

Prior art U.S. patents of Jewell U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,339 and Eldeen U.S.Pat. No. 7,254,926, and Smith Patent Application Publication2014/0215956 A1 disclose devices that span through a pre-assembledstructure to a rim board with an unsupported gap there between. However,none of the known prior art could be easily installed as a retrofit inan application where the ledger board and framing of the add-on buildingstructure are already assembled and existing. Additionally, thestructural mechanics of these prior art devices are not adequatelyaddressed or realized, including whether each contact point is designedas: “Roller”, whereby translation is resisted in one direction butrotation is not significantly resisted; “Pinned”, whereby translation isresisted in all directions but rotation is not significantly resisted(which is characteristic of most conventional screwed or boltedconnection); or “Fixed”, whereby translation is resisted in alldirections and rotation or moment is resisted. As a result, some priorart devices include complex features that are not necessary forstructural purposes.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,254,926 to Eldeen discloses a connector composed of arod with a sleeve at the end of a rod. The nature of the sleeve designand its use in an application with only two contact points suggests thata fixed connection at the sleeve was intended and realized. However, inan application where the rod has three contact points, fixity at thesleeve connection is redundant and unnecessary. Eldeen describes anoption where the rod has a third contact point, but apparently fails torealize that fixity at this third contact point is unnecessary.Resisting moment at this connection point requires the sleeve to be ofthick material, highly specialized, difficult to install, and expensive.Additionally, Eldeen exclusively locates the third contact point on theside of the supporting structure opposite the ledger board. This thirdcontact point could be located both the side of the ledger boardopposite the supporting structure and the side of the supportingstructure opposite the ledger board.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,339 to Jewell and U.S. Patent Publication2014/0215956 A1 to Smith disclose larger devices with two contactpoints. The large custom size of these devices is necessary tofacilitate a fixed connection at the rim board. This moment transferappears to cause rotation of the rim board when vertical loads areapplied on the deck. Preventing rotation of the rim board is dependenton the connection at the top and bottom of the rim board, which may beexisting and impossible to reasonably verify. Additionally, the largesize of these devices appears to require significant removal of exteriorcladding to install.

Eldeen, Jewell, and Smith disclose a vertical plate behind the ledgerboard as a component of the connector device. These plates serve totransfer lateral load from the ledger board through the connector, viacompression, to the rim board. Without these plates, it appears that theledger board could move freely into the gap when subjected to a lateralload towards the supporting structure. In a retrofit application, itwould be difficult to install these components without rebuilding thedeck.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved connectorto support a ledger board of an add-on building structure on a rim boardof an adjacent original building structure that can span through anunsupported gap between the buildings. Other objects of this inventioninclude providing a double shear connector bracket with a stabilizerextension that can transfer load about all space axes between joinedbuildings, can avoid fixed or moment resistant connections, can avoid orreduce significant removal of exterior cladding, can be more easilyinstalled as a retrofit, uses readily available materials of readilyavailable shapes, and does not require unconventional support of thejoists attached to the ledger board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A connector and method of attaching a ledger board to a supportingstructure are disclosed. The connector is described as a double shearbracket with a stabilizer extension that is constructed to span throughan unsupported gap between building structures and transfer loads aboutall three space axes from the ledger board to the supporting structure.The unsupported gap may consist of air or material not designed tosupport a load. Typically, the material not intended to support a loadwould consist of exterior cladding, including, but not limited to,siding, stucco, exterior insulating finishing system (EFS), or masonryveneer.

The double shear bracket is used for mounting through aligned openingsin a rim board of an original building structure and in a ledger boardof an adjacent add-on building structure, so that the facing portion ofthe add-on building structure is supported by the original buildingstructure. The stabilizer extension maintains the bracket in its desiredattitude, usually in a horizontal attitude.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example of a single shear failure mode II from NationalDesign Specification for Wood Construction. (Prior art.)

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, and 2F are free-body-diagrams of add-onbuilding structures with three general options for a staticallydeterminant connector spanning through an unsupported gap betweenbuilding structures. (Prior art)

FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view of the adjacent portions of anoriginal building structure and an add-on building structure such as,but not limited to, a deck joined rim board to ledger board by a doubleshear bracket with a stabilizer extension, with the stabilizer extensionof the bracket extending away from the rim board and ledger board andsupported within the add-on building structure.

FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view of the adjacent portions of anoriginal building structure and the add-on building structure that arejoined rim board to ledger board by the double shear bracket, similar toFIG. 3, but with the stabilizer extension of the bracket extending awayfrom the rim board and ledger board and supported within the originalbuilding structure.

FIG. 5A is a side view of a washer and nut shown threaded onto theconnector rod of the bracket.

FIG. 5B is a side view of a washer, cylindrical sleeve, and nut showninstalled over the connector rod of the bracket.

FIG. 5C is an end view of the washer and nut of FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B.

FIG. 6A is a side view of a washer and cylindrical sleeve shown mountedover the connector rod of the bracket.

FIG. 6B is an end view of the washer and cylindrical sleeve of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 7 is an internally and externally threaded cylindrical sleeve shownthreaded onto the connector rod of the bracket.

FIG. 8 is an expanded view of a washer and screw in alignment with aconnector rod of the bracket.

FIG. 9 is a cylindrical sleeve, with its ends cut at 90 degrees, shownmounted over the connector rod of the bracket.

FIG. 10 is a cylindrical sleeve, with its ends cut at an angle, shownmounted over the connector rod of the bracket.

FIG. 11A is side view of washer shown mounted over the connector rod ofthe bracket.

FIG. 11B is an end view of the washer of FIG. 11A an optional feature ofwasher openings for receiving screws.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a threaded rod adhered to a connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Generally, there are three options that exist for creating a staticallydeterminant connector that can span through an unsupported gap tosupport a ledger board (see FIGS. 2A-2F):

Option 1: As shown in FIG. 2A, the connector has two contact points. Thecontact point at the supporting structure, henceforth referred to ascontact point A, is fixed. The contact point at the ledger board,henceforth referred to as contact point B, is pinned. The contact pointat the end of the joists supported by the ledger board, hence forthreferred to as contact point D, which approximately aligns with contactpoint B, is in a different plane, is pinned, which conforms with theconventional method of attaching joists to the ledger board (i.e.conventional joist hangers) and is not shown in the drawing.

Option 2: As shown in FIG. 2B, the connector has two contact points.Contact point A is pinned. Contact point B is fixed. Contact point D isfixed, which is not the conventional method of attaching joists to theledger board.

Option 3: As shown in FIG. 2C-FIG. 2F, the third contact point isintroduced to the connector, henceforth referred to as point C. Contactpoint A is pinned or roller. Contact point B is pinned or roller.Contact point C is pinned or roller. Contact point D is pinned, which isthe conventional method of attaching joists to the ledger board. Contactpoint C could be located on either the side of the ledger board oppositethe supporting structure (Option 3.1 and Option 3.2) or the side of thesupporting structure opposite the ledger board, shown in FIG. 2D (Option3.3 and Option 3.4).

FIG. 3 illustrates an original building structure 10 and an add-onbuilding structure 12 that is to be connected to the original buildingstructure. A connector bracket 14 connects the original buildingstructure to the add-on building structure.

A conventional original building structure may include parallel floorjoists 16 and flooring 18 mounted on a foundation wall 20 and studs 22supported by the floor joists and rim board 30. A sheathing 24, such asplywood or OSB, may be applied to the stud wall and an exterior cladding26 such as a brick veneer may be applied to the original buildingstructure, usually with an internal air space 28 formed between theexterior cladding and the stud walls and the other exterior wallcovering. Rim board 30 surrounds most of the original building structureand is supported by the foundation wall. The rim board supports parts ofthe building structure above the lower wall foundation in theconventional structure.

The add-on building structure 12, that may be in the form of aconventional outdoor deck, is positioned adjacent the outdoor claddingof the original building structure, such as the brick veneer 26. Theadd-on building structure includes a ledger board 32 that is placedparallel to the rim board of the original building structure, andparallel joists 34 mounted to the ledger board. Flooring 36 is supportedby the joists 34, in the usual manner.

In order to prepare the original and add-on building structures formounting the add-on building structure to the original buildingstructure, the add-on building structure may be positioned adjacent theoriginal building structure as shown in FIG. 3. An opening is drilledthrough the exterior cladding 26, such as brick veneer, through thesheathing 24, through the rim board 30, and any other structural membersto form a cylindrical opening entirely through the wall structure.

Likewise, an opening of similar dimensions is formed through the ledgerboard 32 of the add-on building structure 12. The add-on buildingstructure 12 in this embodiment of the invention is an outdoor deck thatincludes the ledger board 32 with parallel deck joists supportedthereby. The opening through the ledger board is aligned with theopening through the rim board.

The connector bracket 14 includes a rectilinear connector rod 40 thatmay be formed with external or internal spiral threads extending alongits length or positioned at certain contact points along the rod. Theconnector rod that may be comprised of, but not limited to, steel,aluminum, or fiber reinforced polymer is extended through the alignedopenings formed in the rim board of the original building structure andextending through the ledger board of the adjacent add-on buildingstructure. The connector rod is of a length to include a stabilizerextension that extends beyond the connection between the buildingstructures to a supportive structure displaced from the rim board andledger board. Preferably, the connector rod is of a length sufficient toextend over six inches from the ledger board. However, the connector rodmay be shortened if desired, thereby increasing rod shear forces,increasing rod bearing forces, and decreasing rod deflection, orlengthened if desired, thereby decreasing rod shear forces, decreasingrod bearing forces, and increasing rod deflection.

The stabilizer end 48 of the connector rod extends through a supportivestructure 50 that is displaced from the rim board and ledger board, outbetween adjacent joists of the add-on building structure 12. Thesupportive structure can be blocking mounted at its ends to adjacentjoists with an opening through the blocking with the connector rodextending through or up to the opening and attached thereto with asuitable nut, etc.

The supportive structure 50 at the stabilizer end of the connector rodmaintains the connector rod 40 at a fixed height and attitude extendingaway from the rim board 30 and ledger board 32, and holds the ledgerboard 32 at a position where its opening is aligned with the opening ofthe rim board 30. This tends to avoid any pivoting movement of therectilinear connector rod 40. The supportive structure prevents thestabilizer end 52 from tilting vertically or horizontally (ortranslating axially depending on the type of fastener used—describedfurther below), thereby maintaining the ledger board in proper alignmentwith the rim board of the original building structure.

FIG. 4 illustrates the bracket mounted in a reversed position from thatillustrated in FIG. 3. The stabilizer end 52 extends inwardly of theoriginal building structure 10, between the floor joists 16 and throughthe supportive structure 50. The supportive structure prevents thestabilizer end 52 from tilting vertically or horizontally (ortranslating axially depending on the type of fastener used—describedfurther below), thereby maintaining the ledger board in proper alignmentwith the rim board of the building structure.

FIG. 5-FIG. 12 illustrate different types of fasters that can be mountedto the connector rod 40 at the rim board 30, ledger board 32, andsupportive structure 50 to maintain the connector rod and add-onbuilding in its desired position and altitude. All fasteners transferload (from the rod to rim board, ledger, or supportive structure) bothvertically and horizontally. It is for this reason that even simplesleeve type components or bearing elements are referred to herein, asfasteners. Some fasteners transfer axial load, while others do nottransfer axial load and allow axial translation.

FIG. 5A illustrates a washer and nut. The nut 60 includes internalthreads that engage external threads 62 of the connector rod 40. Thewasher 61 provides an enlarged surface for applying compressive forcesto the rim board or ledger board or supportive structure. Thisconnection would allow axial translation in one direction only, as therim board, ledger, or supportive structure could be pulled away from thewasher and slide along the connector rod 40.

If resistance to axial translation was required in both directions thena secondary nut and washer could be installed on the opposing face ofthe rim board, ledger, or supportive structure.

In some cases it may not be possible to install this secondary nut andwasher, for example if an existing ledger is held tight against existingexterior cladding. Alternatively, the washer 61 could include smallholes 64 around the perimeter edge and could be adhered to the nut.Small screws would be driven through the holes 64 in the washer 61 intothe ledger. In this case, as the ledger pulls away from the washer, thescrews would be loaded in withdrawal and would engage the washer, nut,and rod.

FIG. 5B illustrates a similar connector, however a sleeve 63 is added tothe nut and washer. The sleeve 63 may be cylindrical and effectivelyenlarges the diameter of the connector rod 40 and extends into theopening of the rim board, ledger board, or supportive structure to whichthe fastener is mounted.

In order to avoid load being transferred from the rod 40 to the exteriorcladding 26 (when loads are applied to the add-on building structure 12and the rod 40 deflects) the hole in the exterior cladding would ideallybe made of larger breadth than the breadth of the connector rod.However, if the add-on building and original building are alreadyexisting, it would be difficult to only over-drill the hole in theexterior cladding 26, without also over-drilling the holes in the ledgerboard 32 or rim board 30. The cylindrical sleeve 63 provides a means toover-drill the hole through the ledger board, exterior cladding, and rimboard, while making contacting at only the desired locations.Over-drilling the hole in the exterior cladding 26 also provides a spaceto apply an impermeable material, such as caulk or silicon, between therod 14 and exterior cladding 26 to prevent leakage of air or water intothe interior of the original building structure.

FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C illustrate a similar connector, but with only awasher 70 with small holes 72 around the perimeter and a cylindricalsleeve 71. The washer and cylindrical sleeve would be adhered to eachother. The washer and/or cylindrical sleeve could also be adhered to theconnector rod 40 and eliminate the need for the nut. Alternatively, thewasher and cylindrical sleeve could not be adhered to the rod and wouldthen allow axial translation. The rod 40 in this embodiment could bethreaded or unthreaded.

FIG. 7 illustrates a sleeve 81 that is both internally threaded andexternally threaded. The internal threads of the sleeve engage externalthreads 62 of the connector rod 40, while the external threads 82 of thesleeve 81 engage the wood ledger board, rim board, or supporting member.The sleeve includes a hexagonal head 80 to provide a means toinstall/turn the sleeve. The internal threads and external threads ofthe sleeve would ideally be of similar pitch (meaning a given rotationof the sleeve around the connector rod would correspond to a similartranslation along the connector rod). Otherwise, the external threads 82of the sleeve might not properly set in the wood of the ledger board,rim board, or supporting member.

FIG. 8 illustrates a screw and washer. The screw 90 includes externalthreads 91 that engage internal threads 93 of the connector rod 40. Thewasher 92 provides an enlarged surface for applying compressive forcesto the rim board, ledger board, or supportive structure. The openings inthe ledger board and rim board would remain aligned; however, theopening in the board receiving the screw would be of a smaller breadthto accommodate the smaller diameter of the screw 90, not the largerdiameter of the connector rod 40. In this application, the connector rod40 would not pass through the board, but rather would extend to the faceof the board. The screw 91 would pass through the board.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cylindrical sleeve fastener 100 that is installedaround the connector rod 40 and adhered to the connector rod. The sleeve100 would contact the ledger board, rim board, or supporting structure,but the rod 40 would not. Without additional fasteners, this connectionwould allow axial translation as the sleeve would be free to slide alongthe ledger board, rim board, or supporting member.

FIG. 10 illustrates a similar fastener to that of FIG. 9, however, theends of cylindrical sleeve 101 are cut at an angle. This connectionwould be well served at the ledger board 32 of FIG. 3. The distance fromthe wall sheathing 24 and ledger board 32 would not be the same on allstructures. This distance could vary by as much as 2″ on differentoriginal building structures. When gravity loads are applied to theadd-on building structure, the top of the connector rod 40 makes contactwith the top of the hole drilled in the ledger board 32. While thebottom of the connector rod 40 urges towards the bottom of the holedrilled in the exterior cladding 26. The angled sleeve would provide astandard size connector that could always contact the top of the holedrilled in the ledger board 32, while never contacting the bottom of thehole drilled in the exterior cladding 26.

FIGS. 11A and 11B illustrate a washer 110 to be installed over theconnector rod 40. The washer would be adhered to the rod if axialtranslation is to be restrained, and free to slide along the rod ifaxial translation is not to be restrained. Similar to FIG. 5C, holes 111could be drilled along to perimeter of the washer to receive screws tobe driven into the ledger board, rim board, or supportive structure ifaxial translation is to be restrained.

FIG. 12 illustrates a second rod 120 adhered to the connector rod 40.The rod 120 is of a smaller breadth than the connector rod 40 andincludes external threads that would engage a nut or external threadsthat would directly engage the wood of the ledger board, rim board, orsupporting member and eliminate the need for a nut.

Another embodiment would include a connector rod 40 that is installed atan angle, or is curved, so that it can be directly attached to the sideof a floor joist with screws or bolts. This would eliminate the need forthe blocking 50 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The rectilinear connector rod is described as including external orinternal spiral threads and the fasteners are described as includingmatching internal or external threads for mounting the fasteners at thedesired positions along the length of the connector rod. It is alsopossible to form other shapes of the connector rod and fasteners, suchas, but not limited to, a bayonet connection, ribs, or openings in theconnector rod and fasteners formed to match the ribs or openings.

While the expressions “rim board” and “ledger board” have been used todescribe the structural features of the connection points of the add-onbuilding structures and original building structures, these expressionsare to include other supporting structures that are suitable forconnection together by the inventions disclosed herein.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed indetail herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatvariations and modifications of the disclosed embodiments can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

1. A bracket for mounting through aligned openings in a rim board of anoriginal building structure and in a ledger board of an adjacent add-onbuilding structure, said bracket comprising a connector rod for mountingthrough the aligned openings formed in the rim board of the originalbuilding structure and through the ledger board of the adjacent add-onbuilding structure, said connector rod including a stabilizer end of alength for extending beyond the rim board and ledger board forconnection to a supportive structure displaced from said rim board andledger board, fasteners positioned on said rectilinear connector rod, afirst of said fasteners positioned on said connector rod for bearingagainst the rim board, a second of said fasteners positioned on saidconnector rod for bearing against the ledger board, and a third of saidfasteners positioned on said connector rod displaced from the rim boardand the ledger board for connecting the stabilizer end to a supportivestructure displaced from said rim and ledger boards.
 2. The bracket ofclaim 1 wherein said third fastener is positioned at a distance from therim board and the ledger board to resist pivoting of said connector rod.3. The bracket of claim 1, wherein said third fastener is positioned onsaid connector rod to connect the connector rod to the add-on buildingstructure at a position spaced from said ledger board.
 4. The bracket ofclaim 1, wherein said third fastener is positioned to connect theconnector rod to the original building structure at a position spacedfrom said rim board.
 5. The bracket of claim 4 wherein said firstfastener and said second fastener hold said ledger board and said rimboard at a predetermined distance from each other.
 6. The bracket ofclaim 1, wherein said connector rod is at least one foot long.
 7. Thebracket of claim 1, wherein the distance from the stabilizer end of saidconnector rod to the next adjacent fastener is at least six inches. 8.The bracket of claim 1, wherein said fasteners include a washer forfacing said rim board and said ledger board.
 9. The bracket of claim 1,wherein fasteners include a cylindrical spacer positioned about theconnector rod sized for fitting into an opening of the rim board or theledger board that is of a larger breadth than the breadth of said theconnector rod for reducing the likelihood of application of contact ofthe connector rod to the exterior cladding of the original buildingstructure.
 10. A double shear bracket for mounting through alignedopenings in a rim board of an original building structure and in aledger board of an adjacent add-on building structure, said bracketcomprising a rectilinear connector rod of a length sufficient to mountthrough the aligned openings formed in the rim board of the originalbuilding structure and the ledger board of the adjacent add-on buildingstructure, and said connector rod including a stabilizer end of a lengthfor extending away from the rim board and the ledger board forconnection to a supportive structure displaced from the rim board andledger board, three cylindrical fasteners mounted about said rectilinearconnector rod, a first of said fasteners positioned about said connectorrod at a position for bearing against the rim board, a second of saidfasteners positioned about said connector rod at a position for bearingagainst the ledger board, and a third of said fasteners positioned aboutthe stabilizer end of the connector rod and displaced from the rim boardand the ledger board for connecting the stabilizer end to a supportivestructure displaced from the rim board and the ledger board.
 11. Thedouble shear bracket of claim 10 wherein said third fastener ispositioned to connect the connector rod to the original buildingstructure at a position spaced from said rim board.
 12. The bracket ofclaim 10 wherein said rim board and ledger board have vertical surfacesthat face away from each other, and wherein said first and secondfasteners engage the opposite facing surfaces and urge the ledger boardtoward the rim board.
 13. The bracket of claim 10, wherein saidconnector rod is at least one foot long.
 14. The bracket of claim 10,wherein the distance from the stabilizer end of said connector rod tothe next adjacent fastener is at least six inches.
 15. The bracket ofclaim 10, wherein said fasteners include washers for facing said rimboard and said ledger board.
 16. The bracket of claim 15, wherein saidwashers further include cylindrical spacers positioned about the openingof the washer and sized-for fitting into an opening of the rim board orthe ledger board that is of a larger breadth than the breadth of saidthe rectilinear connector rod for reducing the likelihood of applicationof vertical force by the connector rod directly to the exterior claddingof the original building structure.
 17. The bracket of claim 15, whereinsaid washers further include holes for receiving screws extendingthrough the holes and extending into the ledger board and rim board. 18.A method of connecting an add-on building structure to an originalbuilding structure, comprising forming a rim opening in the rim board ofthe original building structure, forming a ledger opening in the ledgerboard of the add-on building structure that is aligned with the rimopening in the original building structure, inserting a connector rodthrough both the aligned rim opening and ledger opening that includes astabilizer end that reaches beyond the rim board and ledger board toform a stabilizer end spaced away from the rim board and ledger board,applying fasteners on the rectilinear connector rod at a positions thatstraddle and engage the rim board and ledger board and hold the rimboard and ledger board in closely spaced relationship, and connectingthe stabilizer end of the connector rod to a support structure displacedfrom said rim board and ledger board at a distance to resist pivoting ofthe connector rod.
 19. A bracket mounted through aligned openings in arim board of an original building structure and in a ledger board of anadjacent add-on building structure, said bracket comprising arectilinear connector rod extending through the aligned openings formedin the rim board of the original building structure and extendingthrough the ledger board of the adjacent add-on building structure, andsaid connector rod including a stabilizer end of a length for extendingbeyond the rim board and ledger board for connection to a supportivestructure displaced from said rim board and ledger board, fastenersmounted on said rectilinear connector rod, a first of said fastenersincluding a cylindrical sleeve positioned on said connector rodextending into the opening in the rim board and a washer positionedagainst the rim board, a second of said fasteners including acylindrical sleeve positioned on said connector rod extending into theopening in the ledger board and a washer positioned against the ledgerboard, and a third of said fasteners positioned at said stabilizer endof said connector rod displaced from the rim board and the ledger boardand connecting the stabilizer end to a supportive structure displacedfrom said rim and ledger boards,
 20. The bracket of claim 19 whereinsaid rim board and ledger board have opposite facing surfaces that faceaway from each other, and wherein said fasteners engage the oppositefacing surfaces of said rim board and said ledger board and urge theledger board toward the rim board.
 21. The bracket of claim 20, whereinsaid connector rod is at least one foot long.